Box Score
Photo Gallery
Bolivar, Mo. - Southwest Baptist University senior wide receiver Nathan Mourik broke the SBU career receiving yards record, but for the second straight week the Southwest Baptist University football team fell on a late fourth quarter field goal as the Bearcats fell to St. Joseph's 24-23 on Saturday afternoon in Bolivar. After the loss, SBU drops to 2-6 (1-5 GLVC) on the season.

St. Joseph's opened the game up with a 15 yard touchdown on their first possession to take an early 7-0 lead. After back-to-back punts the Bearcats were able to get on the scoreboard in their third possession of the game. The drive started with a big 56 yard pass from Trent Edwards II to Nathan Mourik to put the Bearcats into field goal position. Alec Gathright then connected on a 27 yard field goal to put SBU down 7-3. After back-to-back punts again, the Pumas started driving, advancing the ball into SBU territory as the first quarter ended.

SJC continued their drive to open up the second quarter, taking a 14-3 lead off of a short rushing touchdown. The Pumas added another touchdown in their next drive, as SBU found themselves down 21-3 with 7:35 left in the half. After back-to-back punts, the Bearcats started a drive inside SJC territory with 4:43 left in the half. On the second play of the drive, Bubba Jenkins ran the ball straight up the middle, rushing 41 yards for his first touchdown of the game. SBU threatened to score again, but a Bearcat fumble at midfield kept the score 21-10, St. Joseph's, at the half.

In the second half the defense was on display for the Bearcats, forcing two Puma punts before SBU once again got back on the scoreboard. Jenkins and Edwards II pounded the ground game, fueling an 11 play 57 yard touchdown drive as Jenkins found his way into the endzone for the second time in the game to cut the Pumas lead to 21-16. After another big defensive stand, the Bearcat offense went back to work. Jenkins opened the drive up with two strong first down rushes, setting up a 68 yard touchdown strike from Edwards II to Mourik to give SBU a 23-21 lead. After another Pumas punt, the Bearcats offense came back on the field as the third quarter ended.

The SBU defense continued to play lights out in the fourth quarter, but three straight SBU offensive fumbles, coupled with a 32 yard field goal by St. Joseph's, would put the Pumas up 24-23 as time ran out on the Bearcats.

Bubba Jenkins once again topped the century mark for SBU, rushing for 160 yards with two touchdowns on 24 carriers. Nathan Mourik continues his strong second half of the season by hauling in 6 grabs for 162 yards and a touchdown, while Trent Edwards II threw for 241 yards and a touchdown. Defensively Tyler Curts collected a game high 14 tackles, while also forcing a fumble, while Josh Caver included 9 stops.

The Bearcats will hit the road on Saturday, October 31 when they travel to Missouri S&T. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. from Rolla, Missouri.